New Jersey Votes for Planned Parenthood Funds, Not Veto-Proof

The New Jersey state Senate today voted to restore funding to the Planned Parenthood abortion business, but the vote came up one short of having enough to override an expected veto from pro-life Gov. Chris Christie.

The New Jersey Senate passed the measure to restore the $7.5 million in funding 26-13 with all of the Senate Democrats voting to restore the Planned Parenthood funds along with Republicans Diane Allen and Jennifer Beck. The rest of the Republicans backed Christie’s decision to strike the funding in light of the budget foes the state faces and expose’ information showing massive abuses at Planned Parenthood.

Sen. Loretta Weinberg of Teaneck pushed for the legislation, which has not yet been voted on in the Assembly. Republicans blasted the vote saying the bill never received a committee hearing. Weinberg introduced S2899 on Thursday to fund Planned Parenthood family planning clinics and Senate President Stephen Sweeney agreed to post it for a Monday afternoon vote in the state Senate.

“We are going down a slippery slope when we bypass the process,” said state Sen. Anthony Bucco (R-Morris), according to the Star Ledger. “Bypass the process of listening to a bill in committee, debating a bill in committee, bringing it out on the floor and debating it here.”

State Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen) said Planned Parenthood “supports abortion at every turn.”

“This bill is not about women’s health, it’s about partisan politics,” he said.

Marie Tasy, the head of New Jersey Right to Life, condemned the vote. Tasy’s group held a rally at the state capital shortly before the vote took place.

“Revenue forecasts show that New Jersey is getting approximately $900 million from income tax returns and Senator Weinberg believes that $7.5 million of it should go to Planned Parenthood,” Tasy said. “They are furious at Governor Christie for repeatedly vetoing bills to restore funds to their favorite core constituency – Planned Parenthood.”

Tasy said the abortion backers are hoping to catch pro-life advocates off guard, saying, “The reason they are rushing this bill through is because they are hoping New Jersey citizens aren’t paying attention.”

Recently, New Jersey Right to Life exposed a 39-page deficiency report obtained through an Open Public Records Act Request. The Report was issued by the New Jersey Department of Health and involved a recent inspection of Planned Parenthood of Mercer County’s abortion and family planning clinic citing numerous health and safety violations. This report follows a videotape showing a Planned Parenthood clinic employee aiding and abetting sex traffickers of minor girls as young as 13.

“By pushing to fund Planned Parenthood in spite of its criminal activity and violation of health and safety laws, both of which place the lives of women and young girls in immediate danger, Senator Weinberg proves she is not a champion of women,” Tasy said. “She is a champion and tireless advocate for Planned Parenthood and is fighting to fund them with our hard earned money.”

In early February, an employee at the Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Perth Amboy, New Jersey was caught on videotape working with an alleged sex trafficking ring operator to get abortions done on the underage girls he claimed he was exploiting.

A recent

inspection last month of Planned Parenthood of Mercer County finds the clinic in the state capital was cited for numerous health code violations which have placed the lives and health of women and young girls in imminent danger.

The New Jersey Department of Health conducted the surveys on March 10 and 11 and found Planned Parenthood of Mercer County improperly used syringes and compounds, it was guilty of improper training and qualifications of staff on pain management and health care counseling (including abortions), the facility failed to have infection control program inplace and failed to require physical exams for staff.

Health officials also determined the Planned Parenthood center did not test staff for rubella and TB, the medical director failed to designate a replacement for times of absence, the Planned Parenthood did not ensure adequate protections were in place for drug adverse reactions and medication errors, did not have procedures in place regarding dangerous substances, did not have a written agreement with a pharmacy licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy, did not have adequate infection controls in place, was not using and sterilizing medical instruments and devices — including a vaginal ultrasound — properly, and did not provide any proof that the facility is a formal member of the Maternal and Child Health Consortium as required by law.

The inspection, written up in an April 7 letter, also noted Planned Parenthood failed to maintain hot running water in patient care areas, and it had several sanitary and safety violations involving patient care and many other administrative deficiencies.